Community Language Learning

1. Community Language Learning

2. Background • Consider Ss as ‘whole-person ’- not only their intellect, but Ss’ feelings, physical reaction, instinctive protective reactions. • A Counseling-Learning approach. • Developed by Charles A. Curran, influenced by Carl Rogers’humanistic psychology.

3. Background-cont. • He found that adults often feel threatened and foolish by a new learning situation. • T becomes ‘language counselor- a skillful understander of the struggle students. • T is understanding, sensitive, helpful and overcome Ss’ negative feelings into positive energy in learning.

4. Teaching Theory • A whole-person model for education. • La Forge (student of Curran)- 5 stages of learning process as a whole person: -Embryonic Stage (出生階段): looking for security and sense of belonging. -Self-assertion Stage(自立階段): gradually obtain competence of being independent.

5. Teaching Theory-cont. -Reversal Stage (反向階段): being able to speak independently, refuse unnecessary suggestions. -Adolescence Stage (少年階段): fully prepared with cognitive competence and be able to accept critics. -Independent Stage (獨立階段): capable to have free conversation with others.

6. Teaching Theory-cont. Consensual validation (共願效力）： • S- Security(安全感） • A- Attention （注意力）/ Aggression（進取心） • R- Retention（記憶力）-what Ss remembered can be internised into knowledge. Reflection（反思） • D- Discrimination（分類區別）

7. Teaching Theory-cont. • Student-centered- T is counselor, assistant. S is inquirer. • Code-switching- Ss use native lang. and then transit to target lang. • No planned lessons or teaching procedures. Learning is through the interaction between T and Ss.

8. Teaching Activities • Translation: Ss ask in native lang. T translates to target lang. • Small/pair group: discuss a topic, a dialogue or a story.

9. Teaching Activities-cont. • Recording: Ss record the dialogue in target lang. • Transcribing: Ss transcribe the dialogue in target language in written form.

10. Teaching Activities-cont. • Analysing: Ss analyse the written dialogue in target lang. • Reflection and observation: Ss reflect what have learned in the classroom and make an oral report, including express their feelings.

11. Teaching Activities-cont. • Listening: Ss listen to T’s monologue. • Free conversation: Ss and T or other Ss can free talk or exchange experience.

12. Curran: ‘Learning is persons. Real learning demands investment in self and others, and authentic relationship and engagement together.’